Rob Grande - Executive Special Teams Quality Control/Analyst - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Rob Grande

Title:
Executive Special Teams Quality Control/Analyst
Email:
Phone:
515-294-6721

Rob Grande is in his sixth season at Iowa State, currently serving as the Executive Special Teams Quality Control/Analyst. Grande spent the first three years on staff as Executive Offensive Analyst, helping the Cyclones qualify for bowl games in three of his first four seasons in Ames. He moved to working with the special teams in 2023.

Iowa State's 2024 season was historical, with the Cyclones posting an 11-3 overall record and advancing to the program's second-ever conference championship game. It marked the first time in school history reaching double-digit victories and culminated with a 42-41 win against No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The win against the Hurricanes was secured by kicker Kyle Konrardy's extra point with less than a minute remaining.

ISU's special teams unit blocked three kicks during the season, two punts and a field goal, returning one blocked punt for a touchdown in a win against Baylor.

A pair of special teamers were recognized by the Big 12 Conference. Jaylin Noel was named Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year and an All-Big 12 First-Team pick as a kick returner and punt returner. Konrardy earned honorable mention honors with his season being highlighted by a 54-yard field goal in the waning seconds of Iowa State's 20-19 win at Iowa.

Cyclone special teams standout Darien Porter capped an illustrious career with five blocked kicks, three of which came after Grande started working with special teams.

The 2023 Cyclones saw impressive growth on special teams with kicker Chase Contreraz, punter Tyler Perkins and return man Jaylin Noel all earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors for their efforts on the units.

Perkins ranked 27th nationally with a 44.3 net punting average, while Contreraz was 36th nationally with an 80.8 field goal percentage. Perkins punting average was the third-best mark in school history and Contreraz broke the school record with 21 field goals made and 99 kicking points. Contreraz had two 50-yard field goals made and nine makes from 40-yards plus, both of which were the second-most in a single season in ISU history.

Noel averaged career marks for kick (27.2 yards per return) and punt returns (8.5), while posting two kick returns for at least 50 yards and two punt returns of at least 30 yards.

The 2023 team finished the season 7-6 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 action, earning a spot in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

In Grande's first season in 2020, the Cyclones finished the regular season in first place in the final Big 12 standings, made the Big 12 Championship game and qualified for a New Year’s Six bowl for the first time in school history.

The Cyclones capped off the season with a 34-17 win over Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

ISU’s eight conference wins and nine overall wins eclipsed or tied school records, and the Cyclones earned their highest ranking in school history during the season (#6) and postseason (#9).

Grande helped the Cyclones gain over 400 yards of total offense in eight of 12 games to finish the season with the third-best total offensive average in school history (436.3).

In 2021, the Cyclones recorded the fourth-best scoring average (31.3) and the fifth-best total offense (424.5), respectively, in the history of the program. ISU also ranked second nationally in red zone offense, converting on 47-of-49 trips for a 95.9 pct. clip, as the Cyclones earned a berth in the Cheez-It Bowl.

In his time working with the offense at Iowa State, three Cyclone offensive players earned All-America honors, including unanimous pick Breece Hall, three-time All-American Charlie Kolar and career receptions leader Xavier Hutchinson.

Grande was the head coach at Ferrum College from 2016-19, compiling a 23-17 record. In 2018, Ferrum was the only team in the league to defeat Old Dominion Conference champion and NCAA participant Randolph-Macon College.

Under Grande’s guidance, Ferrum had an All-American in three of his four years as the head coach, including Brian Mann in 2018, who was the first Ferrum student-athlete to earn both All-America and Academic All-America honors.

In his four years at Ferrum, Grande mentored players who earned a total of 30 all-conference selections, including four player of the year winners.

Grande spent 11 seasons (2005-15) at Emory & Henry College prior to his tenure at Ferrum. His final eight seasons were spent as defensive coordinator.

A 1993 graduate of Salisbury University, Grande worked at his alma mater’s football staff in various capacities from 1992-98 and 2000-03.

Grande, who earned a Master’s from Salisbury in 2003, has a wife, Penny, and three sons: Sean, Nicholas and Matthew.

Coaching Experience
2023-present - Iowa State - Executive Special Teams Quality Control/Analyst
2020-22 - Iowa State - Executive Offensive Analyst
2016-19 - Ferrum (VA) – Head Coach
2008-15 - Emory & Henry (VA) – Defensive Coordinator
2005-07 - Emory & Henry (VA) – Defensive Line, Secondary
2000-03 - Salisbury (MD) – Assistant Coach
1992-98 - Salisbury (MD) – Assistant Coach